FC United of Manchester
FC United of Manchester
FC United of Manchester

Match Report

2.00pm Sunday 3rd December 2017

North West Womens Regional League, Division One South

FCUM Women

3 - 0

Liverpool Marshalls Feds Reserves

Attendance: 90

FCUM Women 3

Liverpool Marshalls Feds Reserves 0

Attendance: 90

Reds beat Feds to stay top of the league

FC’s Women triumphed 3-0 over Liverpool Marshall’s Feds Reserves in their last home game of 2017. The visitors put up a resilient display but ultimately succumbed to three strikes of real quality from Yvette Loukes, late in the first half, with Cara Fields and Jess McCarrick securing the points with their second half goals.

United kicked off towards the Lightbowne Road end and both teams looked to settle quickly, enjoying respective opening spells of early possession. Three minutes in and FC United earned their first corner followed by another and a third which lead to the first real chance of the afternoon; McCarrick bursting to the bye line and cutting the ball back to Nicole Hatcliffe who saw her effort well blocked and cleared.

This established a theme with the visiting defence proving an efficient unit that denied both Jess Battle and Hatcliffe a few minutes later following a teasing cross from Loukes. Keeper Ellie Moss held onto a curling shot from Hatcliffe after good work from Rebecca Foster fashioned an opening for the FC striker and on 10 minutes Battle forced a save with her feet from Moss after bursting beyond the backline of the Merseysiders.

The half continued with United creating several chances thwarted time and again by resilient and packed defending with Marshall Feds creating little to trouble Chloe Ainsworth on her first start for the reds. With the half ebbing away, United’s dominance and patience finally paid off in the 43rd minute. Loukes played a short corner to Foster working the ball back to Abbie Carrington who fed a square 20 yard pass in from the touch line for Fields to loft a cute pass over the defence. Loukes, just on side, brought the ball superbly under her spell and fired a half volley beyond Moss into the top corner from the penalty spot.

Loukes also launched the first attack of the second half raiding down the right and winning a corner from which Hatcliffe saw her close range effort cleared off the line. McCarrick kept the pressure on and was fouled outside the area with Foster’s set piece being gathered by Moss at the second attempt.

United doubled their lead on the hour with another excellent finish. Loukes centred a corner that Captain Chelsea Patient turned back to Fields just outside the ‘D’. The midfielder connected superbly and arrowed her strike over the crowded area and into the top corner of Moss’s goal leaving the keeper rooted to the spot.
In its own way, the third and ultimately final goal of the afternoon was the equal of the two earlier strikes; McCarrick picked up the ball wide left midway inside her own half and set off at pace towards the visitors area exchanging a one – two with Battle on the edge of the box and slotting her shot across and under Moss on 65 minutes.

Mia Holden entered the fray on 75 minutes and immediately tested Moss from range forcing the keeper to tip the ball onto her cross bar and as the game entered the last 10 minutes Beth Hayes came on for her first taste of match action since an injury sustained 15 months earlier during an away game in Liverpool on 7th September 2016. Hayes laid a good ball into the path of McCarrick once more raiding down the left but this time the wall of dark blue shirts repelled the danger.

Hayes also linked well with Beth Tattersall whose cross was ultimately well held by Moss. Olivia Greenhalgh produced a sublime bit of skill to trick her way through two challenges on the bye line cutting the ball into the near post where Hayes was close to crowning her return with a goal to be denied by a good stop from Moss. A couple of minutes later a long clearance by Ainsworth prompted referee Frank Gallagher to call time on a beguiling contest with another 3 points on the board for Luke Podmore’s Team.

Next weekend, FC’s Women travel to Northwich to face the Vixens and wrap up the first half of the season a week later away to Stockport County Blues before heading into the festive break. Play resumes at Broadhurst Park on 7th January when we welcome Crewe Alexandra’s Development Squad. Thanks to all those who have supported our Women’s Team whether home, away or both so far this season.
Report by Rob Fullen

FC Player of the game: Cara Fields – superb first touch, constant supply of threaded passes to the forwards and a wonder strike into the top corner from just outside the ‘D’ fully justify Cara’s return to the starting 11.

FC’s Women triumphed 3-0 over Liverpool Marshall’s Feds Reserves in their last home game of 2017. The visitors put up a resilient display but ultimately succumbed to three strikes of real quality from Yvette Loukes, late in the first half, with Cara Fields and Jess McCarrick securing the points with their second half goals.

United kicked off towards the Lightbowne Road end and both teams looked to settle quickly, enjoying respective opening spells of early possession. Three minutes in and FC United earned their first corner followed by another and a third which lead to the first real chance of the afternoon; McCarrick bursting to the bye line and cutting the ball back to Nicole Hatcliffe who saw her effort well blocked and cleared.

This established a theme with the visiting defence proving an efficient unit that denied both Jess Battle and Hatcliffe a few minutes later following a teasing cross from Loukes. Keeper Ellie Moss held onto a curling shot from Hatcliffe after good work from Rebecca Foster fashioned an opening for the FC striker and on 10 minutes Battle forced a save with her feet from Moss after bursting beyond the backline of the Merseysiders.

The half continued with United creating several chances thwarted time and again by resilient and packed defending with Marshall Feds creating little to trouble Chloe Ainsworth on her first start for the reds. With the half ebbing away, United’s dominance and patience finally paid off in the 43rd minute. Loukes played a short corner to Foster working the ball back to Abbie Carrington who fed a square 20 yard pass in from the touch line for Fields to loft a cute pass over the defence. Loukes, just on side, brought the ball superbly under her spell and fired a half volley beyond Moss into the top corner from the penalty spot.

Loukes also launched the first attack of the second half raiding down the right and winning a corner from which Hatcliffe saw her close range effort cleared off the line. McCarrick kept the pressure on and was fouled outside the area with Foster’s set piece being gathered by Moss at the second attempt.

United doubled their lead on the hour with another excellent finish. Loukes centred a corner that Captain Chelsea Patient turned back to Fields just outside the ‘D’. The midfielder connected superbly and arrowed her strike over the crowded area and into the top corner of Moss’s goal leaving the keeper rooted to the spot.
In its own way, the third and ultimately final goal of the afternoon was the equal of the two earlier strikes; McCarrick picked up the ball wide left midway inside her own half and set off at pace towards the visitors area exchanging a one – two with Battle on the edge of the box and slotting her shot across and under Moss on 65 minutes.

Mia Holden entered the fray on 75 minutes and immediately tested Moss from range forcing the keeper to tip the ball onto her cross bar and as the game entered the last 10 minutes Beth Hayes came on for her first taste of match action since an injury sustained 15 months earlier during an away game in Liverpool on 7th September 2016. Hayes laid a good ball into the path of McCarrick once more raiding down the left but this time the wall of dark blue shirts repelled the danger.

Hayes also linked well with Beth Tattersall whose cross was ultimately well held by Moss. Olivia Greenhalgh produced a sublime bit of skill to trick her way through two challenges on the bye line cutting the ball into the near post where Hayes was close to crowning her return with a goal to be denied by a good stop from Moss. A couple of minutes later a long clearance by Ainsworth prompted referee Frank Gallagher to call time on a beguiling contest with another 3 points on the board for Luke Podmore’s Team.

Next weekend, FC’s Women travel to Northwich to face the Vixens and wrap up the first half of the season a week later away to Stockport County Blues before heading into the festive break. Play resumes at Broadhurst Park on 7th January when we welcome Crewe Alexandra’s Development Squad. Thanks to all those who have supported our Women’s Team whether home, away or both so far this season.
Report by Rob Fullen

FC Player of the game: Cara Fields – superb first touch, constant supply of threaded passes to the forwards and a wonder strike into the top corner from just outside the ‘D’ fully justify Cara’s return to the starting 11.